book meme

According to the Science Fiction Book Club, these are the 50 most significant SF & Fantasy Books of 1953-2002. Bold the ones you’ve read, strike the ones you hated, italicize the ones you couldn’t get through, asterisks for the ones you loved.

I have never read a book I hated, so none of them will be struck for me. However, I’m apparently not as well read as I’d thought. Either that, or my tastes are not the norm.

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – several times actually, and found something new to be in wonder about each and every time.2. The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov3. Dune by Frank Herbert4. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein*5. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin – Loved it!!!6. Neuromancer by William Gibson*7. Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke*8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick*9. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley*10. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury11. The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe12. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.13. The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov14. Children of the Atom by Wilmar Shiras15. Cities in Flight by James Blish16. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett17. Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison*18. Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison*19. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester*20. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany21. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey – Read most of the series actually.Awesome books.22. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card*23. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson24. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman*25. Gateway by Frederik Pohl26. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling* – I’m an American.It’s a sorcerer’s stone.27. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams*28. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson29. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice* – Should try reading this series again.30. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin*31. Little, Big by John Crowley32. Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny33. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick*34. Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement35. More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon36. The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith37. On the Beach by Nevil Shute*38. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke39. Ringworld by Larry Niven – Amazing and original.40. Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys41. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien – Written very much like the Bible.Couldn’t wade through it.42. Slaughterhouse-5 by Kurt Vonnegut43. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson44. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner45. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester*46. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein*47. Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock – LOVED!This book is part of why I love antiheroes so much.48. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks– Lost count of how many times I’ve read it.The whole series is good.49. Timescape by Gregory Benford50. To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer